Imam Moiz’s AS conquest of Misr heralded the beginning of a tolerant, benevolent, and just Fatimid Dynasty in modern-day Egypt and North Africa. This prosperous period was also marked by innovations in science, intellectual, and philosophical development, and an artistic, cultural, and architectural renaissance. The Fatimi Imams built a number of masaajid throughout Al Muizziya tul Qahera, the largest and most prominent of which is Al Jame Al Anwar.
After nearly ten centuries of disrepair, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin’s RA restoration and renovation of Al Jame Al Anwar marked the beginning of a golden age in dawat. Forty-one years later, the barakat from every meticulous step in the restoration process is evident within each mumin’s home, within each mumin, especially during this Ashara Mubaraka.
One of the first steps was tanzeef – to rid the masjid of layers of dirt and grime. Syedna Muffaddal Saifuddin TUS cleaned the waste from the ditch behind the mehraab. It is the shaan of the Dai al Mutlaq to maintain and cleanse the dawat of Ahl Bayt AS and Aimmat Tahereen AS. Mufaddal Maula TUS continues to rid our homes and hearts of waste and cleanse our minds and souls by ensuring that the barakaat of Imam Husain’s AS zikr reaches us during these days. He has filled our homes with the fragrance of Imam Husain’s AS misk, which is a source of protection during these unprecedented times.
The restoration process included the strengthening of Anwar’s foundations. Per Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin’s RA instructions, the original foundations were enhanced and the masjid was restored upon these. Imam Husain’s AS zikr has been the foundation of our faith since this world came into existence. Thus, Maula TUS continues to ensure that each of us cements the foundations of our own homes and builds our lives on the mohabbat of Awliyaa Kiraam AS and the noha wal aweel of Imam Husain AS.
During the restoration process, both Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA and Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin tus meticulously ensured the excavation and preservation of the original Fatimi era inscriptions, structures, and artifacts throughout the masjid. Today, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS is gracing us with an azeem nemat, by reaching into the archives of Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA and Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Aqa’s RA, and unearthing their historic waaz mubarak, some from over 50 years ago.
The herculean task of restoring Al Jame Al Anwar was not without its hurdles. Leading up to the inauguration of Al Jame Al Anwar, many prominent officials in Egypt attempted to stop the event from taking place. They tried to prevent mumineen from traveling to Misr; they even attempted to prevent Maula RA himself from presiding over these celebrations. It was no less than a miracle of Imam Hakim AS himself that over 10,000 mumineen convened for the inauguration and came to Al Jame Al Anwar daily to listen to the waaz mubarak of Imam Hakim’s AS Dai during the Ashara Mubarak that followed.
The enemies of dawat have long attempted to prevent mumineen from noha and aweel by every means possible. The global pandemic this year could have potentially disrupted the observance of Ashara. But nothing could reckon with the strength of the Hussaini Dai TUS of Imam AS. Every mumin home has become a virtual masjid which resounds with the waaz of three Doat Mutlaqeen and the sounds of maatam and bukaa. May Allah Ta’ala grant our Maula TUS, the nourisher of our souls and bodies, with long life and health until the Day of Qayaamat.
